Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Mustafa Abdul-Hamid will start his professional career in Serbia. Hemofarm has signed the 22-year-old American guard, who arrives from the UCLA. Abdul-Hamid, who is the first signing of the Serbian runner-up for the next season, averaged 2.1 points and 0.6 assists in 8.6 minutes per game for the Bruins during his junior year.

Finally, Todor Gecevski is back to PAOK Thessaloniki. The 32-year-old Macedonian center and the Greek team have finally reached a €120.000 agreement to re-sign his contract. Gecevski, who was also on the radar of Aris Thessaloniki, arrived to PAOK last summer, averaging 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in the Greek A1 league.

Robert Vaden has finally turned down the offer from Ikaros Esperos to play in Greece next season. The 25-year-old American forward has decided to attend the pre-season training camp of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that selected him in the 2009 draft. Though probably Vaden won't make the final roster of the Thunder, he would become free to sign with another NBA franchise if he is finally waived.

BC Donetsk continues building the roster for the next season, and has landed Vyacheslav Kravtsov. The 22-year-old center arrives to his new team after playing during his entire career as a professional for BC Kyiv, where he averaged 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. Donetsk is now interested in Denys Lukashov, a 21-year-old guard, also from BC Kyiv

Kavala is looking for Greek players to complete his roster, and is interested in landing Periklis Dorkofikis for the next season. The 29-year-old forward, though, could also continue in AEK Athens, where he has played since 2008. In the last Greek A1 league, Dorkofikis averaged 8.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

The Eiffel Towers Den Bosch has landed two new players for the next season. The Dutch team has signed Julien Mills and John Smith to a one-year contract. Mills, a 25-year-old American forward, finished last season in the Fort Wayne Mad Ants after playing in Australia for the Cairns Taipans, while Smith, a 25-year-old American forward, arrives from Vagos Norbain Lusavouga, in Portugal.

As expected, Robert Battle is back to Argentina. Libertad de Sunchales has signed the 29-year-old American center, who will play again in the team where he won the LNB title in 2008. During the last two seasons, Battle played for Blancos de Rueda Valladolid, averaging 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in the 2009-10 ACB league.

According to ESPN, the Toronto Raptors and the New Orleans Hornets have reached to an agreement that will send the 24-year-old Italian forward Marco Belinelli, in the Raptors since last season, to the Hornets, in exchange of the 23-year-old forward Julian Wright, who would move to Toronto after playing during his first three seasons as a professionals in New Orleans.

Ricardo Greer is the expected substitute of Hrvoje Peric if the 24-year-old forward finally lands in Unicaja, something that right now is likely not to happen. The 31-year-old American-Dominican forward would be his replacement if the deal gets done, after playing during the last three seasons for SLUC Nancy, in the French LNB. On the other hand, the option of signing Gordan Giricek has been discarded by KK Zadar, due to his high salary demands.

The Houston Rockets, the New Orleans Hornets, the Indiana Pacers and the New Jersey Nets are working on a four-team deal that would involve five players. The agreement would send Trevor Ariza from the Rockets to the Hornets, Darren Collison and James Posey from the Hornets to the Pacers, Troy Murphy from the Pacers to the Nets, and Courtney Lee from the Nets to the Rockets.

Andy Büchert is back to Germany. Eisbaeren Bremerhaven has announced the signing of the 23-year-old German center to a one-year contract. Büchert has played during the last three years for the University of Winthrop, through he didn't appeard in a single game during 2008-09 season due to an injury. In the last one, Büchert averaged 5.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Zalgiris Kaunas has officially announced that Adas Juskevicius and Vytenis Lipkevicius will play next season on loan for Rudupis. The 21-year-old guard Juskevicius averaged 4.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in the last LKL for Zalgiris, while Lipkevicius, a 21-year-old forward, posted 12.0 points and 4.3 rebounds for Aisciai also in the domestic league.

Finally, Rok Stipcevic will move to Cibona. The Croatian team has signed the 24-year-old guard to a two-year contract, and the deal will be officially announced on Thursday. Stipcevic, who has also offers from Zalgiris Kaunas, Lietuvos Rytas, Oldenburg and CAI Zaragoza, arrives to Cibona after six seasons in KK Zadar, where he averaged 13.0 points and 3.9 assists per game in the last Adriatic League.

Mike Wilkinson is back to Russia. Lokomotiv Kuban has officially announced the signing of the 28-year-old American-Macedonian forward for the next season. Wilkinson, who played for BC Khimki from 2007 to 2009, arrives to the Russian team after averaging 13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in the last TBL for Galatasaray.

Besides Walter Hodge, Zastal Zielona Gora could land another important signing. The Polish team is reported to be close to sign Ryan Reid for the next season. The 23-year-old Americann forward was selected with the 57th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers, and then traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Reid averaged 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game during his senior year in the University of Florida State.

Ivan Paunic will continue his career in Russia. His agency has announced that Nizhny Novgorod has signed the 23-year-old Serbian guard for the next season. Paunic arrives to the Russian team after finishing last season in Aris Thessaloniki, where he averaged 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in the Greek A1 league.

After spending his first three seasons as a professional in the Netherlands, Tim Blue arrives to Germany to try luck in Mitteldeutscher BC. The German team has officially announced the signing of the 26-year-old American forward to a four-week contract for a try-out. Blue averaged 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in the last Eredivisie for GasTerra Flames Groningen.

As expected, Xavi Rabaseda will play next season for Baloncesto Fuenlabrada. The Spanish team has reached an agreement with Regal Barcelona to land the 21-year-old forward on loan. Rabaseda arrives to Fuenlabrada after playing since 2007 in CB Cornellà, the affiliated team of Barcelona, where he averaged 14.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in the last Spanish LEB Oro.

Another new prospect for Zalgiris Kaunas. The Lithuanian team has signed Kaspars Vecvagars to a three-year contract, with an option for two extra years. The 17-year-old Latvian guard, member of the national U18 squad, arrives from BA Turiba, where he averaged 5.9 points and 1.3 assists per game last season in the Latvian D2.

Gediminas Maceina will play for the third team in a few months. Juventus has signed the 25-year-old guard for the next season. Maceina arrives to his new team after finishing last season in Techasas, where he landed last March. Maceina, who was released by Rudupis a couple of weeks before being signed by Techasas, averaged 8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for his last team before joining Juventus.

Tadija Dragicevic will continue his career in Germany. Alba Berlin has officially-announced the signing of the 24-year-old forward to a one-year contract. Dragicevic arrives to the German team after finishing last season in Lottomatica Roma, where he landed from Red Star. In the Lega A, Dragicevic averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Banca Tercas Teramo has announced a new point guard for the next season. The Italian club has signed Roberto Rullo to a three-year contract. The young 20-year-old guard, member of the U20 Italian national team, arrives from the LegaDue, where he averaged 8.3 points and 1.6 assists per game for UCC Casalpusterlengo.

Bryan Davis will start his professional career in Poland. Energa Czarni has signed the 23-year-old forward for the next season. Davis lands in the European basketball after playing during the last four seasons for the University of Texas A&M, averaging 9.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in his senior year.

Walter Herrmann is currently in talks with Caja Laboral to terminate his contract, after just one season in the Spanish club. The 31-year-old Argentinian forward is now exploring his options to go back to the NBA, where he played during three seasons for the Charlotte Bobcats and the Detroit Pistons. According to his agent, Herrmann has some chances to play again in the NBA.

As expected, Warren Carter will play next season for the Israeli champion. Galil Gilboa has signed the 25-year-old American forward, who arrives from Ilisiakos. Carter, who was close to earn a spot in the roster of the New York Knicks last preseason, averaged 12.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in the 2009-10 Greek A1 league.

After being targeted by some of the most important Spanish clubs, Pablo Aguilar could finally play for a recently promoted team next season. The 21-year-old forward, who played last season for CB Granada, could move next season to CAI Zaragoza on loan to Real Madrid. His current club doesn't want to get rid of his rights trading him to another team.

Antalya Basket has landed a new player. Polat Kocaoglu was signed by the Turkish team to a one-year contract, after playing for Galatasaray during the last two seasons. The 31-year-old center, previously in Mersin, averaged 1.0 points and 1.0 rebounds per game in the 2009-10 TBL, appearing just 10 games.

Unicaja and KK Zadar have reached an agreement for Hrvoje Peric, but the Spanish team is not sure about completing the transfer. The board of Unicaja is having doubts about the convenience of landing the 24-year-old Croatian forward, and the deal could be broken. Peric averaged 11.5 poitns and 5.0 rebounds per game in the last Adriatic League.

Lokomotiv Kuban has announced another major signing. The Russian team has officially landed Alando Tucker. The 26-year-old American forward has played in the NBA since 2007 to last March, when he was waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tucker finished the season in Puerto Rico, playing six games for the Gallitos de Isabela.

Olympiakos has landed one of the top Serbian young players. The Greek team has announced the signing to a three-year contract of Marko Keselj. The 22-year-old forward arrives to his new team after playing during the last two seasons for Red Star, averaging 9.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in the 2009-10 Adriatic League

Menorca Bàsquet is considering several options for the center position. Besides Ratko Varda, Andy Betts, the recently promotes Spanish team could also keep Caio Torres. But Menorca has also shown interest for Paulo Prestes. The 22-year-old Brazilian center is set to be send on loan by Unicaja, after playing last season for CB Murcia. Besides Menorca, Prestes is also on the radar of several ACB teams.

Just a day after leaving Spartak St. Petersburg, Vasili Zavoruev has a new team. Dynamo Moscow has officially announced the signing to a one-year contract, with an option to a extra year, of the 23-year-old guard. In the last Russian Super League, Zavoruev averaged 4.3 points and 0.7 assists per game for Spartak.

The Boston Celtics have announced that Rasheed Wallace has been waived. That decision was expected after the retirement of the 35-year-old forward, who was still under contract with the Celtics until 2013. Wallace arrived last summer to Boston from the Detroit Pistons, averaging 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game during the 2009-10 season.

The recently promoted team Maccabi Ashdod continues strengthening the roster for the next season. The Israeli club has signed Sean Daniel, the young 21-year-old forward who finished last season in Hapoel Holon, where he posted 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in the last Premier League.

As expected, Sam Van Rossom will play next season for CAI Zaragoza. The 22-year-old Belgian guard is now in talks with his current club, Armani Jeans Milano, to terminate his contract and sign with the Spanish team. Van Rossom played last season on loan for Scavolini Pesaro, averaging 8.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in the Lega A.

Michael Gruner will start his professional career in Poland. Polpharma Starogard has signed the 22-year-old guard, who lands in his new team after four seasons in the University of Lafayette. In his senior year, Gruner averaged 7.0 points and 2.8 assists per game for the Leopards.